New to Forum and some of these issues may have already been considered (?).
[Running MacBook Pro HD OS X v10.8.2]
I have an older version of Airport Extreme Base Station and an older Airport Express. The Extreme is working, but... I tried to make some revisions and ran into problems. First, I would like to hook up a USB printer to the Airport Extreme. Second, would like to extend WiFi from Airport Extreme to the Airport Express. Purpose of adding the adding the Express is so I can connect an ethernet switch at entertainment center for BluRay, AV receiver, and future RAID NAS installation. (Unfortunately not convenient to run ethernet cable from extreme to ethernet switch which is why the Express comes into the conversation)
Apple technician told me that both Airports are too old for service support, and that the new Airport Utility does not support these older models. Then he also explained that while the older versions of the Airport Utility were available, they would not operate on OS X. He suggested that a work around might include downloading older version of Airport Utility on a thumb drive and operating it from the thumb drive to manage my networking changes... Has anyone else experienced this? Not sure which version of Airport Utility I need, or how to manage a utility from thumb drive either.
In a related question, if I am successful (connecting USB printer to Extreme & extending network with the Airport Express) should I be concerned about any interference or signal quality between the Extreme-Express (they would be in close proximity, within 20 feet and one interior wall of one another). In other words, will I regret trying to use the Express to extend network to ethernet switch vs. connecting ethernet switch with cable instead of WiFi? (Note: there is just no attractive way to run ethernet cable there, and sheetrock work is last resort. Hopefully this can be accomplished wirelessly without degrading the connections). And the future connection of RAID NAS for wireless storage at entertainment center; would it influence decisions about network connection approach to the ethernet switch from the Airport Extreme?
Best regards,
[Running MacBook Pro HD OS X v10.8.2]
I have an older version of Airport Extreme Base Station and an older Airport Express. The Extreme is working, but... I tried to make some revisions and ran into problems. First, I would like to hook up a USB printer to the Airport Extreme. Second, would like to extend WiFi from Airport Extreme to the Airport Express. Purpose of adding the adding the Express is so I can connect an ethernet switch at entertainment center for BluRay, AV receiver, and future RAID NAS installation. (Unfortunately not convenient to run ethernet cable from extreme to ethernet switch which is why the Express comes into the conversation)
Apple technician told me that both Airports are too old for service support, and that the new Airport Utility does not support these older models. Then he also explained that while the older versions of the Airport Utility were available, they would not operate on OS X. He suggested that a work around might include downloading older version of Airport Utility on a thumb drive and operating it from the thumb drive to manage my networking changes... Has anyone else experienced this? Not sure which version of Airport Utility I need, or how to manage a utility from thumb drive either.
In a related question, if I am successful (connecting USB printer to Extreme & extending network with the Airport Express) should I be concerned about any interference or signal quality between the Extreme-Express (they would be in close proximity, within 20 feet and one interior wall of one another). In other words, will I regret trying to use the Express to extend network to ethernet switch vs. connecting ethernet switch with cable instead of WiFi? (Note: there is just no attractive way to run ethernet cable there, and sheetrock work is last resort. Hopefully this can be accomplished wirelessly without degrading the connections). And the future connection of RAID NAS for wireless storage at entertainment center; would it influence decisions about network connection approach to the ethernet switch from the Airport Extreme?
Best regards,